Rose Publishing - 52 Key Bible Stories

The Bible contains many storiesbut it is not a random collection; each individual story is part of one large story: the record of Gods dealings with humanity. The following pages summarize some of the most well-known stories in the Bible. There are many more wonderful stories to be discovered; this selected list provides a birds-eye view of the large biblical story.

The main characters in that grand story are God and his people and the rest of humanity. A good grasp of the stories in the Bible opens a window into how God works in the life of his people today. Those stories help us understand where we came from and give us the wisdom to know where we are heading.

The church is not based on individual experience alone; rather, it is also based on who we are as Gods people. We are a people bought at a high price. We are Gods special possession. We are a people created for good works. We understand this identity both from our life with Gods people today and from the many stories in the Bible.

The story the Bible tells has a clear beginning and ending. It begins at the very moment of creation: God is the creator and owner of all that exists. His creation is corrupted by sin, so God begins a history of salvation: God wants to redeem his whole creation and save humanity from sin, death and condemnation. Jesus is the answer to the problem of sin and evil. He is the savior of humanity and the redeemer of creation. The ending of the story is also clear: Jesus will come back as a victorious King to judge all peoples. He will create new heavens and earth with no place for death and evil.

Summary: God creates and blesses the heavens and the earth, the creatures, the plant life, the people. God is the owner and true King of the universe.

• The Triune GodFather, Son, and Holy Spiritparticipate in the creation.
• The six days of creation, followed by a seventh day of rest.
• God creates humans in his own image and gives them rule over all the earth (1:2628).

See also Psalm 90:2 and Hebrews 1:2.

Summary: God creates the first man, animal life, and the first woman. Humans are stewards of the creation.

• God creates Adam from the dust of the ground, and places him in the Garden of Eden (2:78).
• God forbids him to eat from the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil (2:1517).
• God creates Eve from one of Adams ribs; Eve is a suitable helper for Adam (2:1825).

See also Genesis 1:27 and Ephesians 5:2229.

Summary: Not satisfied with their role in creation, humans fall into the temptation of wanting to be like gods. Their rebellion has cosmic consequences: Sin and death enter the world. A history of curse opposes Gods blessing on his creation.

• The serpent tempts Eve by questioning Gods word, love, and provision (3:15).
• Eve eats the fruit, as does Adam (3:6).
• God expels them from the garden and curses the serpent and the ground (3:1819).
• Sin creates brokenness between humans and God, humans and nature, and humans with each other.
• The following stories, Cain and Abel, the Flood, and the Tower of Babel illustrate the consequences of sin in creation (4:111:9)

See also Romans 5:12-21 and Hebrews 3:15.

Abraham's Journey to Canaan by Pieter Lastman

Summary: God begins a new history of blessing by calling Abram out of his country and family. God promises a new people and new possibilities.

Main Points:

• God calls Abram out of Ur to go to another land (12:1).
• God promises Abram to make of him a great nation and to bless him (12:2).
• God makes a covenant with Abram to give him a son and a land (15:121)
• God reaffirms his covenant with Abraham. Circumcision is the sign of the covenant (17:127).

See also Deuteronomy 26:5 and Romans 4.

Abrahams Faith (Genesis 22:118)

Summary: After keeping his promise of blessing Abraham and Sarah with a son in their old age, God tests Abraham.

Main Points:

• God instructs Abraham to offer Isaac, his only son, as a sacrifice (22:2); Abraham acts in obedience (22:6).
• When Isaac sees no animal sacrifice, he asks his father about it (22:7).
• Abraham tells Isaac that God will provide the sacrifice (22:8).
• As Abraham prepares to sacrifice Isaac, the angel of the Lord stops him (22:1112).
• The Lord provides a ram to be the sacrifice and confirms his covenant with Abraham (22:1318).

See also Hebrews 11:1719 and Romans 8:32.

Joseph in Canaan (Genesis 3747)

Joseph Interpreting Pharaoh's Dream by Peter von Cornelius

Summary: The story of Joseph illustrates the promise God made to Abraham. Through Joseph, and in spite of the suffering and troubles, God blesses all the nations of the earth.

Main Points:

• Joseph was the favorite son of Israel (Jacob) (37:3).
• Joseph shares two prophetic dreams with his family in which he rules over them (37:511).
• Josephs brothers conspire to kill him, but settle for selling him into slavery (37:1228).
• While in slavery in Egypt, God blesses Joseph even in the midst of suffering and injustice (3940).
• Joseph interprets Pharaohs dreams; he becomes the second in command in Egypt (41).
• Joseph confronts his brothers. His brothers, especially Judah, experience a transformation (4245).
• Jacob, Josephs father, goes to Egypt with all of his family (46).
• God reaffirms his promises to Jacob as he had done with Abraham (46:34).

See also Genesis 41:3943 and Genesis 45:8.

The Call of Moses (Exodus 16)

Moses Before the Burning Bush by Domenico Feti

Summary: God calls Moses to lead Israel out of Egypt. Israel spent over 400 years in Egypt. Moses is to lead Gods people through the wilderness into the Promised Land.

Main Points:

• After Josephs death, a new Pharaoh enslaved Israels children (1:122).
• God speaks to Moses from a bush that burns but does not burn up (3:34).
• God identifies himself as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (3:6).
• God tells Moses that he has selected him to tell Pharaoh to release the people (3:910).
• God tells Moses that his name is I AM (3:1314).
• God tells Moses that Pharaoh will not comply and God will have to strike Egypt (3:1920).

See also Psalm 90 and Hebrews 3:16.

The Plagues on Egypt and the Passover (Exodus 7:1512:51)